Les Cafés de Paris

One of the most common facets of Parisienne French culture is the Café experience. It is not unusual for French employees to go to an open air café in the middle of the day to simply enjoy a glass of wine and relax with friends. Much less emphasis is placed on work and career and rather more on enjoying life to the fullest (joie de vivre). If a you wanted to travel to France, your trip would be incomplete without experiencing this everyday activity. So I encourage you to learn as much about the French Café culture here on this website, and hopefully one day you can experience it personally for yourself!

Here are some questions for you to consider as you work through the webpage and complete the assigned tasks independently:

• Does the Tim Hortons experience in Canada differ or equate to the Café parisienne experience in France? How?
• Are Canadians more or less passionate about Tim Hortons coffee than French citizens are about wine?
• Have online social networking sites like facebook negatively or postively impacted the Café parisienne cultural experience?
• How do you define joie de vivre? What activities best deliver you that feeling?

Part 1

1.  First, please look at this depiction of Parisian Cafés by CBC news:

http://atlantis2.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2915008n

Why do you think that there is such a large decline in French Cafés? Have social networking sites like facebook and Twitter had an impact on their business?

2.  Next, compare what you learned about French Café culture to our Canadian version of the Café...Tim Hortons! Use these usefull links to help you think about how Tim Hortons fits into, or helps define, Canadian culture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuFLon26nMw

http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/about/2359.htm

 

3.  Now that you have seen some footage that supports both cultures, please write a 250 word response (1 page, double spaced) about the similarities and differences between French and Canadian Café culture. How are they different? If so, why? What do you think are the reasons each are so popular in their own countries? Which do you prefer? why?

Part 2

Here is a song entitled "For me Formidable" by Charles Aznavour. In 1998, Charles Aznavour was chosen as Entertainer of the Century by CNN  and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. He has sung for presidents, popes, and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXIgqfQCo3U

His music is often heard in many of the cafés accross France. This song uses both English and French lyrics, so you should be able to enjoy it through both languages. There is no written work associated with this song.  It is for you to understand what type of music is played in a café.  There is a bonus question tied to it, so pay attention!

Part 3

1. Now that you have a fairly good understanding about the differences between French and Canadian café culture, let's do some work using french Café menus as a basis for learning! Please look at the menu section of the following websites and choose one that you like best:

Les DeuxMagots:

http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/carte_restauration.php

 

De la ville Cafe:

http://www.delavillecafe.com/index.php

 

Cafe Constant:

http://www.cafeconstant.com/1.aspx

 

2. This is an individual activity.  I would like you to translate one of the menus from French to English.  Please include the currency exchange to Canadian dollar using your percentage knowledge learned from the last math unit.

Part 4

1.  Now that you have translated the menu from the Café of your choice, I would like you to read this review of 'Les deux Magots' Cafe by the NY Times:

 

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/france/paris/51466/les-deux-magots/restaurant-detail.html

 

2.  This is an individual activity.  Once you have done so, please answer the following questions in French:

• Name some of the famous people that have been to the café.
• How did the Café get its name?
• In what part of Paris is the café located?
• What is the one downfall mentioned in the review?
• What is the recomended special?

Part 5

You have now seen depictions of french cafés, listened to music that is heard in cafés, translated a menu, and read an review and answered questions...your last task is to write a review of your own. Your review does not have to be on a French Café, but rather can be on any restaurant you have ever eaten at.  I simply ask that the work be completed in French and that the review is at least 250 words.

 

 

       

BONUS POINTS!

 

***Write a short paragraph in English stating whether or not you think it would be profitable for Tim Hortons to open in France.

***What is the artist's name of the song you heard?

***What literary device does he use repeatedly in the song?

(all 3 correct worth 5% extra!)